National Republican., 1887-09-30
CLERKS MIXING IN POLITICS.
Civil Service Commissioner Oberly
Does Some Plain Talking.

~
clining to accept. He says that he has
come to the conclusion that he could not
accept without violating official obligations.
Continuing he says:
The commission holds that entrance to
and continuance In that part Of the execu-
tive civil service known as the classified
civil service should be upon the merit OF
the applicant or employe without regard to
his political opinions or affiliations. This
position IL justified by many considerations,
all OF which lead irresistibly to the conclu-
sion that the civil service act Of 1888 was
enacted for the purpose Of providing non.
partisan service. IL follows, therefore, that
this law should be executed IN strictly
nom partisan manner, and from this propo-
sltion logically follows the conclusion that
no officer charged with its execution can ba
effective in the discharge OF that duty II by
active participation In party politics he de-
stroys the confidence OF the public In his
fairness and impartiality.
A civil service commissioner, or civil
service examiner, as member OF polit-
ical committee, or as member, patron, or
encourager Of q political association com.
posed OF persons In the public service, all
members OF one political party, organized
for the purpose of putting certain political
partisans into, and of excluding certain
other political partisans from, office, would
would be justified In the conclusion that In
the discharge of his official duties he might
bear unfairly against political opponents
and lean partially toward party friends.
The commission has expressed the opin-
ion that Republican in the public service
has the right to entertain strong political
views, and to give, at the proper time,
strong expression to those views. In this
connection the commission has said:
The opinion ia not to be tolerated that be-
cause mau occupies a place In the classified
civil service he must therefore surrender his
right to take an interest In the politics Of tho
country. No good citizen will do so, and no
degree ofactivity In effort to advance the in
terest oi the party opposed to the administra-
no way interieres with his public duties, rcn
der insecure in the service Of the government
the position Of any person who does not occupy
Affects public service
This position may be perverted into an
appearance OF inconsistency with the post
tion that the Illinois Democratic Associa-
tion may not, with propriety, be patronized
or encouraged. 1t may be held that there
can be no legal or other good objection that
can be urged against the policy of Demo-
Gratis in the public service organizing, as
you have done for the purpose OF being
active In effort to promote the interest OF
| the administration. In other words, 1t may
| be said that there Is an unwillingness on
| my part to give to the Democratic office
holder the same partisan privileges that are
accorded as Of right to the Republican
| ofliceholder. A candid consideration of
the Illinois Democratic Association In the
| light shed upon 1t by several sections Of the
civil service act will, however, show you
that my objections to such associations, to
| partisan associations OF offlceholders are
based upon strong foundation, which no
partisan sophistry can destroy or even
| weaken.
Section Ii of the civil service act pro-
vides that no executive officer, and no clerk
or employe OF any department, branch, or
bureau OF the executive service shall, di-
rectly or indirectly, solicit or receive, or be
In any manner concerned In soliciting or
receiving, any subscription or contribution
for any political purpose whatever from any
officer clerk. or employe Of any depart
ment, branch, or bureau thereof, or from
any person receiving any salary or compen-
sation from moneys derived from the treas
ury Of the United States.
Section IA Of the same act provides that
no officer, clerk, or other person In the SER
vice Of the United States shall, directly or
indirectly, give or hand over to any other
officer, clerk, or person in the service Of the
United States, any money or other valuable
promotion Of any political object whatever
And section fifteen Of the act provides
that any person guilty of any of thest
offenses shall, on conviction thereof, bt
punished by a fine not exceeding 5000 oi
by imprisonment for term not exceeding
three years, or by such fine and imprlson.
ment both In the discretion OF the court.
Now, does 1t not follow, that officers
clerks, and other persons IN the service oi
the United States who are organized fol-
political purposes, and who by initiation
fees, dues, and contributions, defray the
expenses OF this organization are violating
sections II and IA OF the civil service act
They are giving, they are handing over tc
officers, clerks, or other persons in the ser
vice Of the United States, and these person.
acting as officers Of the association, as tn,
representatives of the associated officers
clerks, and other persons IN the service o
the United States are receiving money fol
political purposes, money to be applied Il
the promotion Of political objects.
1t should not be forgotten that the pro
Visions OF the civil service act to which
have referred and other similar provision
of that act were passed while the Republi.
can party was in power, and when, by per
verting instrumentalities, the Republican,
were using the public service for partisan
purposes; when tho Republican party wat
filling the civil service with men anc
women, not because they would be ellicien
public servants, but for the reason that
they or their friends had been active In ad
vancing the political fortune OF some mem
ber OF that party; when, having thus ap-
pointed men and women for partisan rea
sons only, the Republican party thei
robbed them by assessments and by sollcita
tions accompanied by open or limited threat
ofdlsmissal; when, for the purpose Of making
Its frequent attempts at this kind of robber
, effective, 1t organized the Republican stat
, associations and used them In taking from
the purses of It's victims money that wa
needed In the support and education OF fam
lilies dependent upon the persons who wer
compelled to heed the partisan demand t.
"Stand and deliver" It should not be fol
gotten by Democrats that the penal section
OF the civil service act were aimed at thi
system OF robbery by assessment and soil
citation and at all the instrumcntalities b
, | which that system was made effective
Democrats applauded the enactment G
those provisions and congratulated then
, selves upon the probability that they woul
, destroy the malign influence of the Reput
lican state associations located at Washing
, ton and give to the Democratic party q fai
,, chance In fair fight for the presidency
And the Democrats were not mistaken.
The penal clauses Of the civil servc
, act did break the power Of the partisa
collector, who robbed the clerks Of th
. departments by using the Republican stat
associations as his weapons OF assault an
. Democrats everywhere rejolced, and in 1Ss.
as a consequence Of the enactment OF th
civil service act, they had fair fight wit
!, their opponents, and won famous victor,
7 And now may not be excused for sayin
? that Democrats should not initiate the wori
practices OF the worst Republicans by OF
ganizipg the officers, clerks, and other en-
ployes OF the departments at Washingto
, Into state associations, the purposes
which are partisan, and all the money co
! : lected or expended by which is money co
lected and expended, given aud,handed owe
, received and applied, as the law expresses
for partisan purposes and for the prom'
, | tion ~ Dolitical obiects all of which nra,